🎙️ Interesting Humans Podcast

“God honors treating people well.” — Susana Eshleman, CEO Children International

I was introduced to Susana by a mutual friend and former Chairman of the CI board of directors. She has such an inspiring story beginning with how she had to hide books under her bed as a child then how and why she got into college then accepted into Harvard. Full of twists and turns, pivotal people and books, this story is one that can bring inspiration to all. And it was all made possible because of 1 pivotal point where someone saw in her something she could not see. 

👉 Host: Jeff Hopeck. To learn more about my ventures and the conversations I care about, find me at www.JeffHopeckBrand.com

My good friend Jack was at an event watching John Suttles share his story. Jack called me right after the event and said “Jeff you HAVE to get this guy on your podcast. His story was so amazing I walked up to him afterwards and got his number for you.”  Wow, Jack was right! And then some. Mr John Suttles shares his story of surviving Bloody Sunday, being a protege for MLK and whats most interesting and encouraging is the way he approaches life without the hate he deserves to carry, but refuses to. He learned how to read the hate from a very specific process taught to him by Martin Luther King. It completely blew me away and it’s gonna do the same for you.

👉 Host: Jeff Hopeck. To learn more about my ventures and the conversations I care about, find me at www.JeffHopeckBrand.com

[Folks, there was no way I could produce this episode in my studio! It had to be done on the deck of Captain Allen’s boat, so we hit the road and spent a sunny afternoon on his boat!]

Captain Allen Mills — He’s a good friend, a client, and 45+ year charter fishing captain. He is owner of ACCharters in Amelia Island, Florida. I fished will Allen 50+ times and we became good friends and spent many hours catching sharks 🦈 , reds, and had so many other great times on the water together. My oldest son caught his very 1st fish ever with Captain Allen in the back waters of Amelia Island  what a day and what a memory! 

Captain Allen got his start in the shrimping industry in the Fernandina/ Amelia Island area. In this episode he talks about the 3 times [EVER] he had to deploy his life jacket. The stories will have you on the edge of your seat! He even talks about 2 different boat fires he escaped along with plenty of great insights into the business of fishing. 🎣  So kick back, make sure you have a coozie and stay dry! 

👉 Host: Jeff Hopeck. To learn more about my ventures and the conversations I care about, find me at www.JeffHopeckBrand.com

♣️ ♦️ ♥️ Jeff Tomlinson, 2015 World Series poker champion talks poker tells, card counting, rules, and stories ranging from dumbest thing seen at a poker table to the final hand before winning his gold bracelet! Even if you’re like me and do not play poker, you’re in for a real treat on this episode. Plus, jeff is such an awesome person and you’re gonna simply love the life lessons you will learn in this episode from the game of poker.♣️ ♦️ ♥️ 

On another note, I am so grateful for the introduction to Jeff from my good friend and former colleague Harry Fuller. He is one of the Secret Service agents that appeared back in episode 30.

👉 Host: Jeff Hopeck. To learn more about my ventures and the conversations I care about, find me at www.JeffHopeckBrand.com

Ray Schenk : The ultimate story of a Top Gun pilot turned high school teacher, whose classes all have waiting lists to get into.  Ray’s approach to modern day education, finding and developing leaders for the next generation and his keen sense of using AI & Robotics in the classroom have all landed him on Episode 52 of The 🎙️ Interesting Humans Podcast. He has a proven approach to consistently raising the bar for students so they can tap into their fullest learning potentials.  He is unique and very interesting. Here are some of the discussion points you will learn about in this episode: 

🖥️ Girl coders - What’s causing the spike, why girls are so effective at coding  

0️⃣ Zero Trust approach to cybersecurity

✈️ E2C Hawkeye Pilot

🚀 Top Gun & Top Dome school 

⚔️ Advanced warfare school 

🚨Enhanced interrogation techniques (His experience and training with different methods)

⚙️Quantum Resistance Model (cryptographic algorithms that can withstand attacks from quantum computers)

Microsoft featured his school as one of the top schools in America using AI and large learning models in his classrooms. 

👉 Host: Jeff Hopeck. To learn more about my ventures and the conversations I care about, find me at www.JeffHopeckBrand.com

Dave Cormack. I’m so thankful a mutual friend connected us. Our first pre-interview was at Starbucks and lasted 3 hours and 50 minutes! Dave is such an incredible human. Of course he’s successful with a business exit of $800 million. But there is so much more to this man. In this episode you’re going to hear Dave’s entire life story from growing up in poverty to selling a company and then buying the Aberdeen football club in Scotland! Loyalty, integrity and clearly defined business ethics are what drives 🙏Dave. He’s about much more than making money, you won’t want miss this episode! 

👉 Host: Jeff Hopeck. To learn more about my ventures and the conversations I care about, find me at www.JeffHopeckBrand.com

👀 437lbs down to 205lbs. Listen to Keith Brock's inspirational story that began with a couch 🛋️ in Miami, FL and a gut-wrenching event that sparked lasting change in his life. One moment he was living the life of a 437 pound frustrated and miserable human being. The next moment he turned his life over and walked out of his old body. Some incredible highlights of this episode with Keith include:

1) he dropped 2 1/2 shoe sizes, but this is just one of the many fascinating bodily changes that took place in his life

2) the weight loss was the easy part, it was something else that was much more difficult to overcome 

3) the psychological requirements prior to his life-saving surgery

4) the difference between cash pay and insurance pricing 😱 for his procedure

5) eating tips for busy people and those who eat out regularly

6) a phenomenal tip to continue eating dessert despite needing to weigh-in weekly

Regardless of your struggle in life, this episode delivers great encouragement, motivation, and real-life tips that will spark change in even the most hopeless situations. Enjoy the episode!

👉 Host: Jeff Hopeck. To learn more about my ventures and the conversations I care about, find me at www.JeffHopeckBrand.com

Shaun & Julie Francis have endured what hopefully no other human being has to endure. 17 brain surgeries, 13 months in ICU, multiple comas, seizures and more. When 7 surgeons told Julie her husband's only option is to enter hospice, she said "figure out a way" and they did. Without her advocacy on his behalf while in a coma, Shaun would be dead long ago. Julie's stern approach gave her husband over 1 decade of family time, travel and more. And, Shaun is now alive and well!

👉 Host: Jeff Hopeck. To learn more about my ventures and the conversations I care about, find me at www.JeffHopeckBrand.com

From Airborne to Unshakable Trust

John Nelson’s life reads like a movie script—82nd Airborne veteran, government work across continents, and now the founder of a student tour company built entirely on safety, trust, and integrity. In this episode, John shares wild jump stories, Cold War memories, surviving chaos during the Boston Marathon bombing, and why his military background shapes every tour he leads today.

👉 Host: Jeff Hopeck. To learn more about my ventures and the conversations I care about, find me at www.JeffHopeckBrand.com

I’m so glad a mutual friend introduced us. Mike Barnhill has such an exciting story from couch jumping and homeless to becoming #1 badge/lanyard supplier in the world. But how and why is this even possible? The answer is what makes this episode so extraordinary! It was ONE sentence in ONE book that changed everything for Mike. Prepare yourself for this fascinating journey of hope, redemption, clarity and healing. Thanks for coming on the podcast Mike!  

👉 Host: Jeff Hopeck. To learn more about my ventures and the conversations I care about, find me at www.JeffHopeckBrand.com